AFL-CIO Blog

  • Black History Month Profiles: John Coats
    Black History Month Profiles: John Coats This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is John Coats. John Coats has been teaching in Philadelphia for more than three decades and is one of the most dedicated people you'll meet. A building representative for 28 years, he has also served for 14 years as a member of the executive board of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Local 3 of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). He is an incredible advocate for his students and for his union. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 02/24/2021 - 09:30 Tags: Black History Month — Feb 24
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Across America, Workers Hold Day of Action to Save Union Jobs
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Across America, Workers Hold Day of Action to Save Union Jobs Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Braving bitter cold temperatures across much of the country, hundreds of union members, environmental activists and community groups turned out in force for a national day of action on Saturday to raise awareness of the IUE-CWA’s campaign to save union jobs at the GE-Savant lighting plant in Bucyrus, Ohio, and help the environment. According to IUE-CWA, GE-Savant intends to transfer its LED lightbulb product line to China, permanently laying off more than 80 workers, and possibly closing the plant. “People are saying that if these jobs go, then it’s only a matter of time before the plant closes,” IUE-CWA Local 81201 President Adam Kaszynski told The Daily Item. “The hypocrisy of the situation is glaring because they’re going to have to send these back from China to sell them in the United States, increasing the carbon footprint. Walmart certainly has the power to demand that these lightbulbs are manufactured in Bucyrus.” Kaszynski (not pictured) led rallies with the North Shore Labor Council at Walmart stores in Lynn and Salem, Massachusetts. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 02/24/2021 - 08:30 Tags: Community Service, COVID-19 — Feb 24
  • Organizing Institute Partners with NBWCP for First-Ever Black Lead Organizer Training
    Organizing Institute Partners with NBWCP for First-Ever Black Lead Organizer Training We are just coming off of the first-ever AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (OI) Advanced Organizer Workshop for Black lead organizers and campaign strategists. In commemoration of Black History Month and the history and impact of Black organizers in the civil rights and labor movement, the OI partnered with the National Black Worker Center Project (NBWCP) on a training specifically designed on developing Black lead organizers. Twenty-five Black lead organizers from the Electrical Workers (IBEW), American Postal Workers Union (APWU), NBWCP, United Steelworkers (USW), UNITE HERE, and Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) from across the country came together to share experiences, sharpen their campaign management skills and reinforce best practices to win campaigns for recognition in workplaces and communities. Thank you to:
    • NBWCP Executive Director Tanya Wallace-Gobern and NBWCP Deputy Executive Director Shanika Houlder-White for partnering with the AFL-CIO OI to make this happen, and for taking time from their own work to serve as facilitators for the empowering workshop.
    • AFSCME Associate Organizing Director Ashley Jenkins and AFL-CIO Internal Organizing Coordinator Handel Lundy for taking time from their campaigns to serve as facilitators.
    • OI Senior Trainers Tiffany Bender (lead) and Patricia Recinos (co-lead), OI Senior Administrator Indeya Taylor and AFL-CIO Meetings and Travel Senior Planner Roberta Loving for all the work, planning and execution in making this historic lead organizer workshop a success.
    Click the video to check out how Arrion Brown (APWU), Monique Hennagan (OPEIU), Semi Cole (NBWCP) and Keith Rivers (IBEW) share what they learned and how they plan to take back to, and win, the campaigns they are leading.   Although this was the first workshop for Black lead organizers and strategists, we will continue partnering with unions and allied organizations to sharpen the skills of women and organizers of color, from entry-level to lead organizers. We thank you for your continued support and trust in the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute. The OI will post the 2021 OI Digital Three-Day Training Schedule later this week. Check out aflcio.org/oi for updates. We look forward to training organizing teams to empower working people to win respect and dignity on our jobs. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 02/23/2021 - 10:39 Tags: Black History Month, Organizing Institute     — Feb 23
  • Black History Month Profiles: Trina Dean
    Black History Month Profiles: Trina Dean This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Trina Dean. A Philadelphia public school parent and educator, Trina Dean has taught for 12 years and serves as a building representative and associate secretary on the executive board of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 3. Dean is a remarkable advocate and educator, and she fights tirelessly for a school system that her students and fellow educators deserve. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 02/23/2021 - 09:30 Tags: Black History Month — Feb 23
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: North Carolina State AFL-CIO Issues Workers First Agenda for State
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: North Carolina State AFL-CIO Issues Workers First Agenda for State Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. North Carolina State AFL-CIO President MaryBe McMillan (IUOE) reported the state federation and its affiliated unions have announced a Workers First Agenda for the 2021–22 legislative session. The priorities include requiring the state’s Department of Labor (NCDOL) to respond to COVID-19 related complaints about unsafe working conditions, ensuring safe and adequate housing for migrant farmworkers, maintaining a stable workers’ compensation program, and more. In the agenda, the North Carolina State AFL-CIO explained: “Our priority is ensuring that working people receive adequate resources to survive the pandemic. Ultimately, however, we want working families to do more than just survive. Beyond the pandemic, we want working people to be able to thrive, to build better lives for themselves and their children, to enjoy the fruits of their labor, and to live with dignity. It is time for policymakers to recognize the significant contributions and sacrifices made by working people. It is time to put workers first, just as they have done for all of us during this unprecedented crisis.” Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 02/23/2021 - 08:30 Tags: Community Service, COVID-19 — Feb 23